Similar species:M. depressiceps has slightly longer hindlimbs (tibiotarsal articultion reaches between eye and nostrils) and the webbing does not reach the disk of toe 5. It is also smaller, and differs by call. Boophis tephraeomystax andB. opisthodon have no narrow longitudinal line on the legs, and only an inner metatarsal tubercle.

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special BehaviorsHabits: During the day this species is often hidden in phytotelmic plants (Ravenala and Typhonodorum). Males emit their loud calls from the vegetation over ponds or swamps in or near rain forest. Eggs are deposited on leaves but also on tree trunks or rocks overhanging the water.

Calls: A single note of 2-6 relatively slowly repeated pulses.

Eggs and tadpoles (tadpoles from Foulpointe): Clutches consist of 40-100 greenish or brownish eggs and are deposited about 3-250 cm above stagnant water; clutch diameter is 4-5 cm, egg diameter is 2.3 mm. Often various clutches (of different developmental stages) are laid on the same leaf, overlapping each other, and in such cases the tadpoles of one clutch can move into the jelly of another clutch. After 7 days, tadpoles, 9.5-10.5 mm long, drop into the water. The brownish tadpoles can reach total length of 40 mm in stage 31-40. At midlength of tail, caudal musculature accounts for 1/3 of tail height. Eyes directed dorsilaterally. Tooth formula is 1/4+4//3 or 1/5+5/3. Larval development was completed after three months. Metamorphosed juveniles measure 13-14 mm.

Breeding takes place in temporary and permanent pools (Vences and Cadle 2008).

Trends and ThreatsIt occurs in many protected areas (Vences and Cadle 2008).

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

General habitat alteration and lossHabitat modification from deforestation, or logging related activitiesIntensified agriculture or grazingHabitat fragmentation

Written by Miguel Vences and Frank Glaw (m.vences AT tu-bs.de), Assistant Professor and Curator of Vertebrates at the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Zoological Museum at the University of Amsterdam.First submitted 2003-02-25Edited by Henry Zhu (2009-05-06)